US delays processing 'high risk' refugees

The Trump administration will temporarily delay the processing of most refugees from 11 countries deemed to be high-risk, top Cabinet officials wrote in a memo to President Donald Trump and seen by Reuters.

The memo, which the administration provided to members of Congress on Tuesday afternoon, said the administration "will conduct a detailed threat analysis and review" for citizens of 11 "high risk countries".

In the meantime, it will "temporarily prioritise refugee applications" from other countries, the memo said.

The administration is also temporarily pausing a program that allows refugees already in the US to apply for their relatives abroad to join them in the country, until additional security measures can be implemented for the program, said the memo, which was signed by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke, and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats.